Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE) (German: Ökologischer Tourismus in Europa e.V.) founded in 1991 in Bonn, Germany, supports the development of sustainable tourism in both, Germany and Europe. Alone or in cooperation with partner organisations, ETE plans and implements model projects, which focus on regional development through environmentally and socially friendly tourism - often in protected areas and mountainous regions.

For many years ETE is active in Central and Eastern European Countries and thus disposes of varied experiences on site. ETE is working closely with the CEEweb for Biodiversity, a network organisation coordinating more than 70 organisations active in the fields of nature conservation and sustainability. Aside from cooperating with CEEWEB in the implementation of concrete projects, ETE is also co-coordinating CEEWEB's international Sustainable Tourism Working Group (STWG).

Fields of work

Consultancy

Information

Regional model projects for sustainable development

Tourism policies

Conferences and symposia

Seminars and workshops

Generally, capacity building and education represent further key activities of ETE. Regarding tourism policy ETE is supporting the implementation of international agreements and conventions related to tourism, in particular those of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with its Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development, the UN-Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the Framework Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Carpathian Convention). The guidance derived from these agreements incorporate in all project activities of ETE.

The Green Suitcase is the logo of our organisation. It represents our activities for travelling and tourism services regarding to environmentally friendly and socially responsible measures.

With the Green Suitcase, also an initiative was started in 1991 to create an eco-label to award environmentally friendly and socially responsible tourism offers.

This initiative lead to the establishment of the German umbrella brand for ecological sound tourism, VIABONO, which is based on an agreement between tourism industry, nature- and environment protection organisations and federal ministries.